Designation: D 3103 – 99

Standard Test Method for

Thermal Insulation Quality of Packages1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3103; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the thermal
insulation quality of a package and its enclosed packaging from
temperature differentials between the packaged item and the
outside environment. It is suitable for testing packages with
and without various internal refrigerants and with or without
interior packaging. Representative test conditions covered are
indicated by Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Depending upon the type of
insulation material used, a water-vaporproof barrier might be
used just inside the exterior packages of Fig. 1.
a—Containers Having Usable Inside Volume of 1 ft3(0.03 m3) or Less.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
tionary statements are given in 5.2.3 and 9.2.2.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
ments2
b—Containers Having a Usable Volume of More Than 1 ft3(0.03 m3)
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
FIG. 1 Thermally Insulated Packages with Sensors Positioned
Packaging Components for Testing2
3. Terminology 3.2.6 interior package—a package (often of corrugated
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for packaging and dis- fiberboard) located within another.
tribution environments are found in Terminology D 996. 3.2.7 thermal conductivity, homogeneous material—the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: rate of heat flow, under steady conditions through unit area, per
3.2.1 draft-free atmosphere—a relatively stationary atmo- unit temperature gradient in the direction perpendicular to the
sphere where the test specimens are remote from air currents. area.
3.2.2 eutectic system, n—a mixture or compound in which
4. Significance and Use
pure solid phases changes occur at a well-defined specific
temperature. 4.1 Certain items, such as biological materials, pharmaceu-
3.2.3 exterior atmosphere—the atmosphere in contact or ticals, industrial adhesives, gyroscopes, blood, and some foods,
near the exterior surface of a package. must be shipped inside temperature-controlled packages. Fac-
3.2.4 exterior package—the outermost container of a pack- tors affecting the rate of heat transfer of the package include the
age. moisture content of the different package components and the
3.2.5 interior atmosphere—the atmosphere in contact or thickness, continuity, density, position, and uniformity of the
near the packaged item. insulation.
4.2 Because of the variety of factors affecting the perfor-
mance of a thermally insulated package, testing should be
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on conducted with the actual package whenever possible. When
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.23 on Natural simulated packages are used, special care must be exercised so
Environment Test Methods.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally
that the simulated payload and coolant of the model will be as
published as D 3103 – 72. Last previous edition D 3103 – 92. close as possible to the actual materials in temperature and
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. other relevant physical properties.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 3103
FIG. 2 Liquid Nitrogen Refrigerator
5. Test Conditions and Apparatus
5.1 Temperature of Exterior Atmosphere— Draft-free envi-
ronments large enough to accommodate the packages, but not
necessarily the recorder, are required. Usual evaluation of the
packaging materials will involve simple refrigerated or ambi-
ent exterior atmospheric conditions. These may be established
as 4 6 2°C (39 6 4°F), 37.8 6 2°C (100 6 4°F), and 23 6 2°C
(736 4°F). Additionally, other temperature extremes or cycles
between various temperatures expected during shipment might
be used as an exterior atmosphere.
5.2 Temperature of Interior Atmosphere of Package—When
no refrigerant is used, interior package temperature may serve
as a measure of the thermal insulation quality of the package.
If it is desired to control the interior temperature of the
atmosphere, use one of the following:
5.2.1 Refrigerant Gel, Water Ice, or Other Refrigerant
Source, for internal temperatures above 0°C (32°F),
5.2.2 Solid Carbon Dioxide CO 2(Dry Ice or Euctectic
Systems), wrapped as used in shipments for maintaining
internal temperatures down to − 73°C (−108.4°F), or
5.2.3 Liquid Nitrogen, for temperatures to − 195°C
(−319°F).
NOTE 1—Caution: Gaseous CO2 and nitrogen are colorless, odorless,
and noncombustible. In well-ventilated uses they present few problems,
but evaporation or sublimation in airtight enclosures for prolonged periods
(for example, 12 h) can produce sprung doors and asphyxiation of
operating personnel. Usually these refrigerants can be used if provisions
are made to evacuate the built-up gas periodically.
5.3 Temperature Indicators:
5.3.1 Multi-Channel Recorder with Thermocouples—The
recording capability should be as a datalog by thermocouple
number with date and time of reading, that can be presented in
a continuous graph form as a secondary presentation. Resolu-
2
tion of the device shall be 0.1°C or greater. Accuracy over the
range tested should be 6 1°C. The printer or associated
computer datafile shall be activated by a voltage from an
insulated pair of copper-constantan or other suitable wires 30
AWG B&S gage (0.255 mm) or less in diameter (not including
the thickness of insulation). The recorder and chart shall have
a capability that extends beyond the temperature values en-
countered in the test.
5.3.2 Thermistor-Recorder—A thermistor sensor may be
used, instead of a thermocouple, for sensing interior tempera-
tures of the package. The thermistor may be attached to
recording equipment, as described in 5.3.1, with supplementary
electrical circuitry as needed, or it may be a wireless, battery
operated, computer programmable unit that stores digital
temperature readings at specified time intervals. Programming
and data downloading of the units is done through a suitable
computer interface with appropriate software. Accuracy over
the range tested should be 6 1°C with resolution to 0.1°C.
Response time over range should be determined prior to use
and suitable for the reading interval of the test.
6. Sampling
6.1 Experimental package designs shall be made in accor-
dance with the specifications and methods that will be used
during actual production. When possible, choose the test
packages by random sampling.
7. Test Specimens
7.1 A single test specimen shall consist of a package
enclosing the actual item or a dummy load simulating the item.
The package shall be closed, taped, or sealed in the same
manner as will be used for actual shipment.
7.2 The mass, configuration, and location of refrigerant, if
used, must be the same in each pack.
7.3 For development or screening evaluation of the overall
insulation effectiveness of the container and insulation mate-
rial, the interior cavity and package wall thickness shall be kept
constant (for example, a 12 by 12 by 12-in. (305 by 305 by
305-mm) interior cavity surrounded by a 1-in. (25-mm) thick-
ness of insulation and a 14 by 14 by 14-in. (356 by 356 by
356-mm) container. Test a minimum of three such packages at
each exposure listed in 5.1 to obtain an average result and
range of performance.
7.4 When testing packages having known or previously
established performance data, a minimum of three identical
samples shall be tested to determine reproducibility and
repeatability.
8. Conditioning
8.1 Condition materials in accordance with Practice D 4332
or for 24 h at the conditions expected during actual production
packing.
9. Procedures
9.1 Packages Enclosing Solid Refrigerants:
9.1.1 Verify the calibration of the temperature-monitoring
equipment per manufacturer’s directions against an NIS trace-
able standard suitable for the ranges being measured. Battery-
operated thermistors recorders with or without external probes,
 D 3103
should be calibrated by the manufacturer and a certificate of
NIS traceability of accuracy provided.
9.1.2 Place the contents in the conditioned package accord-
ing to the specific configuration to be tested.
9.1.3 Insert the sensors in the package so that they are in
contact with the item(s) as follows:
9.1.3.1 For packages having an inside volume of 1 ft 3 or
less and a single open cavity for both ice and product, place
one sensor at or near the diagonally opposite corners of the
item as shown in Fig. 1a. Additionally, the sensors and at least
1⁄2 in. (13 mm) of wire immediately behind them should be in
contact with the item. Wrapping the wires around the item, if
practical, is advantageous to minimize heat flow from the
outside.
9.1.3.2 For packages designed with interior walls separating
product and refrigerant, more thermocouples may be needed to
adequately monitor temperatures. Again, porting through a
wall directly into the product cavity is recommended. The port
should be kept as small as possible and sealed after insertion of
thermocouples to prevent leaking air.
NOTE 2—It is desirable to use wireless data recorders, if possible, on
smaller units to minimize temperature leaks at the thermocouple insertion
site. If thermocouples are used, a small port can be opened through the
wall of the carton as far away from the ice as possible, the thermocouples
inserted into the carton, and the port sealed to prevent leaking of air. Do
not place battery operated recorders in packages containing dry ice as the
units will be damaged and nonfunctional at these temperatures. Units with
remote probes may be placed outside the carton where the battery and
microchip will not be exposed to dry ice conditions.
9.1.3.3 For packages having usable inside volume of more
than 1 ft3, a screening test using a minimum of ten thermo-
couples to determine the locations of the warmest and coldest
spots is recommended. The larger the usable capacity, the more
thermocouples may be needed to adequately screen and test the
package. Packages with interior walls separating product and
refrigerant may require testing at extreme temperatures above
or below those specified in 5.1 to fix locations of hot and cold
spots. Every interior configuration, including quantity and
placement of both ice and product should be screened, as
changes to either element will alter the interior temperature
profile of the package. Once warmest and coldest locations are
identified, the number of thermocouples can be adjusted
upward or downward, depending on the reproducibility of the
warm and cold locations.
9.1.4 Place a weighed and measured quantity of refrigerant
in the package. When water ice or refrigerant gel are used,
measure and record their temperature at the start of the test. Do
this by securely taping a sensor to the outside of the refrigerant
container or by inserting a sensor into the water prior to
freezing.
9.1.4.1 The quantity of refrigerant or eutectic system may
be varied. However, when materials and designs of similar
inside dimensions are being evaluated, the quantity by mass,
configuration, and total surface area must be constant for the
series for accurate evaluation of performance. When crushed or
chopped dry ice is used, the fragments should be of the same
general size for each package tested and should be free of dry
ice dust.
9.1.5 If wires are not ported through the wall of the
3
insulated carton, place the cover on the package with the sensor
wires arranged so that the least possible heat transfer occurs
through the joint.
9.1.6 Tape or otherwise secure the cover to the package in
the normal manner.
9.1.7 Place the package in the test environment on a wooden
platform or shelf in such a manner that no part of the package
contacts the chamber walls or floor. If more than one package
is tested at one time, they shall be separated from each other by
at least 6 in. (152 mm). Mark the chart with date and time and
start the recorder.
9.1.7.1 The orientation of the carton should be the same as
that experienced in shipping. For small cartons where various
orientations occur during shipping, all orientations should be
screened and tested, as the orientation affects the interior
temperature profile. If more than one carton is shipped at a
time, duplicate the usual configuration of the units during
shipping in the test, as the added insulation value of adjacent
cartons affects the time/temperature profile of the carton as
well as location of coldest and warmest spots.
9.1.8 If data is collected in digital format, the recorder
should be set to record temperatures not longer than every 30
to 60 min in screening tests. Intervals as short as 5 min may be
needed for thin-wall containers exposed to low exterior air
temperatures. Once a temperature profile has been established,
recording intervals can be extended to every 3 h, depending on
the duration of the test and the rate of internal temperature
change. Continue to collect data until the interior temperatures
are above the maximum or below the minimum temperatures
dictated by the product, or until the total test time has elapsed.
If the data can be reviewed on an exterior monitor, end the test
when the desired limit is reached. If using micro-chip based
battery operated recorders without exterior monitoring, end the
test when the total elapsed time limit is reached.
NOTE 3—Larger capacity cartons show a slower rate of temperature
change than small cartons. Temperature reading intervals should be
adjusted to the rate of change, that is, shorter for small packages with
lower insulation values and longer for larger packages with higher
insulation values.
9.1.9 Check the calibration of the temperature-monitoring
equipment at the end of the test.
9.1.10 Mark the date and hour of the start and end of the
testing on the chart or digital data record.
9.2 Containers with Liquid Nitrogen Refrigerant (Fig. 2):
9.2.1 Detach the necessary sensor wires from the tempera-
ture recorder, calibrate, and place the sensing end(s) within the
container adjacent to the contents.
9.2.2 Condition the container and contents by immersing
them in liquid nitrogen for the length of time specified by the
manufacturer, or by another recommended method.
N OTE 4—Caution: The temperature of liquid nitrogen is
about − 195°C (−319°F). Therefore, when liquid nitrogen is used as the
cooling agent, extreme care must be used during purging to maintain a
nitrogen atmosphere adjacent to surfaces having a temperature near that of
liquid nitrogen. This is necessary to prevent oxygen condensation and the
related explosive fire danger.
9.2.3 With the contents in the conditioned container, add the
liquid nitrogen as recommended by the container manufacturer.
 D 3103
9.2.4 Attach the cap or closure to the container with the
sensor wire or wires extending between the closure and
container in such a manner that the least possible nitrogen
leakage occurs.
9.2.5 Attach the ends of the sensor wires to the recorder and
proceed as in 9.1.7.
9.2.6 Allow the recorder to run until the indicated tempera-
tures are above the maximum established for the particular test.
9.2.7 Check the calibration of the temperature-monitoring
equipment and record the date and hour.
9.3 Packages Without Refrigerants:
9.3.1 When packages are tested without refrigerants, the
thermal insulation quality is determined by observing the
temperature change between the interior atmosphere or product
and the controlled atmosphere outside the package.
9.3.2 Calibrate the temperature-monitoring equipment.
9.3.3 If the package (with or without interior packaging), is
to be tested empty, place at least one sensor on the inside
surface of the package, and at least one additional sensor near
the center of the package.
9.3.4 If the package is to be tested with the product, embed
at least two sensors in or in contact with the product, or as
many sensors as are needed to test the entire interior.
9.3.5 Suspend one sensor in the controlled atmosphere
outside and in close proximity of the package(s) to serve as a
check against the usual recording controls of the environmental
chamber.
10. Report
10.1 Report the following information:
10.1.1 Dimensions of the package under test, its structural
specifications, the materials of construction, the name of
manufacturer, and the method of securing the lid.
10.1.2 Description of item(s) and secondary packaging
materials.
10.1.3 Type, quantity, and location of refrigerant and de-
vices within the package (in the case of water ice and
refrigerant gel, record the initial ice and gel temperatures).
10.1.4 Type of temperature recording system used, (if a
thermocouple system was used, indicate the location of ther-
mocouple leads and junctions within the package).
10.1.5 Method of conditioning package and contents prior
to test.
10.1.6 Temperature and relative humidity of the test envi-
ronment.
10.1.7 Number of hours recorded on the chart or digital data
record by each sensor from the start of the test to the point
where the temperature starts to exceed the maximum or
minimum temperature established for the test.
10.1.8 Quantity, temperature, and state (if pertinent) of
refrigerant remaining at the end of the test, or the test duration
has been reached.
10.1.9 Description of the physical state of the contents at the
end of the test.
10.1.10 Evaluation of the test with respect to the effective
storage time in comparison to tests of other packaging mate-
rials or other designs.
10.1.11 A statement that all tests were made in accordance
with this test method.
11. Precision and Bias
11.1 Precision—The precision of this test method has been
determined by an interlaboratory study.
11.1.1 Repeatability—When an analysis is conducted on the
times in hours to reach a critical temperature, the within-
laboratory standard deviation is typically about 4 % of the
mean. When a lognormal analysis is conducted on the natural
logarithms of the time in hours, the typical within-laboratory
standard deviation is 0.04. These values may vary depending
on the package or container being tested and the capabilities of
each laboratory.
11.1.2 Reproducibility—When an analysis is conducted on
the times in hours to reach a critical temperature, the between-
laboratory standard deviation is typically about 10 % of the
mean. Then a lognormal analysis is conducted on the natural
logarithms of the times in hours, the typical between-
laboratory standard deviation is about 0.1. These values may
vary depending on the package or container being tested and
the capabilities of each laboratory.
11.2 Bias—It is not possible to specify the bias of this test
method as no accepted reference material or method is avail-
able.3
12. Keywords
12.1 heat transfer of packages; thermal insulation; tempera-
ture controlled packages
3
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM Headquarters and may be obtained by
requesting Research Report RR: D10–1012.

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